What would you do? I cant decide

[RoadFarmer]

I've been wanting to build a shop building by my house....maybe 50x50 with a small bathroom. Insulated...probably not too many bells and whistles to cut down on cost. I'd guess it'd cost about 50-60k to build it. Plus my house has a 1/4 mile gravel road to the pavement.

I've found a building about 9 miles away from my house that used to be a Seed business. It has a 120x60 elevated wharehouse with loading ramps and pallet racks also has another 40x50 show room with three offices and a kitchen/breakroom and bathroom. The showroom/store section had a/c and heat. The wharehouse is insulated. It sits right off an asphalt road. It's been for sale for about 5-6 years with no bites. I think I could get the building for around 80-100k. Oh and it comes with 18 acres and a few other ancient tin buildings.


My wife thinks I'm nuts to want something not near our house.....but an equally built shop by our house would cost over $350k or more. Would you deal with the pain of not having it out your back door for the extra ammenities and size?
I'm torn. What do you guys think?

 

[dirttracker18]

For me seems a long way from the house. I like to step out into the shop myself. On the other hand there will be less people (read wife/kids) to just come out and bug you.

My first thought is, any chance of renting out part of the unit? Say the store front and/or showroom? This would give you a huge shop with nice ammenities and a little something to help pay it down. Even if you had to price the rent lower than average for the area you are still ahead by having someone pay for part of it.

Is that a viable option?

 

[jdcustoms]

Are you sure on the 80-100k? Bad economy or not that size building sitting on 18 acres of most likely comerical land sounds like alot more then 80-100k. If you could get it for that I would say scarf it up but check what the taxes would be first.

 

[trbomax]

Depending on what the setting of the property is,what kind of condition the buildings are in,where your home is,I would seriously consider buying it and then building a new house on the rear of the 18a. You dont say what your property is like where the house is now.

 

[Dan in Pasadena]

I think you buy the building and acreage and either sell your house or sell some/nearly all of the acreage to pay you back for the purchaseo fhte building.

You've probably seen lot of those shows where commercial space has been remodeled/transformed into truly amazing living spaces. Would that work here?

 

[jeffk14]

All that built out space and 18 acres for $100K? What's the zoning? If it were me, I'd seriously consider selling the house, converting the office space to live in, maybe renting out some of that warehouse space and moving there.

Edit; trbomax & Dan beat me to it, but you get the idea.

 

[bullfrog123]

For me and "offsite" shop wouldn't work to swell. When I need my welder or grinder I don't want to take a half hr of time to go get them and then remember to take all the stuff back to the shop which could in some cases take a trailer to haul all the chit back and forth. Too time consuming.
Also, my shop doubles as storage for my camp trailer, wheelers, snowmobiles, Bronco, etc. All things are in one spot for whatever project I wanna tinker with.

 

[djjsr]

My workshop is only about a mile from my house but that's even too far. For convenience and security peace of mind, I'd rather have it in the backyard.

 

[RoadFarmer]

Is that a viable option?

I thought about that with the wharehouse....I could sell spaces for indoor car/boat storage...cheap, but better than nothing. the showroom part would be perfect to roll 4-5 cars in and have a super comfy work space.

 

[RoadFarmer]

Are you sure on the 80-100k? Bad economy or not that size building sitting on 18 acres of most likely comerical land sounds like alot more then 80-100k. If you could get it for that I would say scarf it up but check what the taxes would be first.

This town couldn't even keep the Dairy Queen afloat......That's a good point on the taxes though. I'd rahter it didnt come with any extra land....more upkeep.

 

[dirttracker18]

I thought about that with the wharehouse....I could sell spaces for indoor car/boat storage...cheap, but better than nothing. the showroom part would be perfect to roll 4-5 cars in and have a super comfy work space.

I have been on the lookout for a large barn to do just that. However a budyd of mine beat me to it. He purchased an old warehouse in town for next to nothing because it sat for sale for years. He offered indoor heated storage and most of the space was snapped up.

Having cold winters means guys want heated space for big dollar boats and motorhomes. My loss as I did not find a place.

 

[RoadFarmer]

I think you buy the building and acreage and either sell your house or sell some/nearly all of the acreage to pay you back for the purchaseo fhte building.

You've probably seen lot of those shows where commercial space has been remodeled/transformed into truly amazing living spaces. Would that work here?

I live where I work right now...we have a farming operation and a three year old house...so I dont see a new house in my future...and with only 1000 people in our town...I dont think anyone would care about a trendy industrial living space. And I probably wouldnt wanna deal with tennants

 

[RoadFarmer]

For me and "offsite" shop wouldn't work to swell. When I need my welder or grinder I don't want to take a half hr of time to go get them and then remember to take all the stuff back to the shop which could in some cases take a trailer to haul all the chit back and forth. Too time consuming.
Also, my shop doubles as storage for my camp trailer, wheelers, snowmobiles, Bronco, etc. All things are in one spot for whatever project I wanna tinker with.

That's what kills me on this deal. I keep thinking about needing tools. the tinkering part isnt too big a deal b/c I'd keep all my projects in the new building.

 

[bullfrog123]

One other thing to consider if renting out space for storage is...... what type of insurance will you need? Could be spendy if you have to provide certain coverage of others valuables.

 

[TWX]

My workshop is only about a mile from my house but that's even too far. For convenience and security peace of mind, I'd rather have it in the backyard.

My thoughts too. There are a few facilities around here that are similar to storage units, but with full sized, double depth, double height workshops with lifts and water and HVAC and the like, and some have security, but they still aren't where I can walk over to work on something for five minutes.

Here, too much shop means too much HVAC bill, and too much land means effort to keep it maintained. I'm in a big house with a decent-sized shop on 4/10 acre and it's still more work to maintain than I'm used to.

 

[Charles (in GA)]

Aside from the fact that distance is a huge deterrent, and maintenance on a huge building (even a simple leak in the roof could be a hassle) and the general maintenance on 18 acres, and the huge potential of vandalism and theft, and cost of insuring the buildings, the potential of a environmental nightmare from a previous owner (underground tanks, leaking tanks, etc), huge power bills just to turn on a few lights to work and keep security lights on............ well, it sounds like a great place.

Charles

 

[RoadFarmer]

Aside from the fact that distance is a huge deterrent, and maintenance on a huge building (even a simple leak in the roof could be a hassle) and the general maintenance on 18 acres, and the huge potential of vandalism and theft, and cost of insuring the buildings, the potential of a environmental nightmare from a previous owner (underground tanks, leaking tanks, etc), huge power bills just to turn on a few lights to work and keep security lights on............ well, it sounds like a great place.

Charles

haha WoW! Buzz Kill!!!!
But all your points are very valid. I'd want to see if I could just buy the building. I dont want to have to deal with the older builds that are starting to lean over and definately don't want to have to run a shreader and sprayer to keep the weeds down on 18 acres.

 

[bazzateer]

Fence off the 18 acres and declare it a nature reserve.
Military nearby? Let them practise demolition on the unwanted buildings.

 

[justanengineer]

You guys forgot the golden rule of building - the larger the building, the more **** that ends up in it. I say unless youre looking to start another business (and deal with the associated headaches), build a garage on your own property.

 

[Kalstar]

Ask for a clean 21e or the right to inspect. If the ground is contaminated the problem runs with the property (IE to you) and does not follow the past owner. Sounds like a fantastic deal for the right price if everything checks out. The escape to the shop will be much sweeter when know one can walk out to the garage to ask you to do other duties. I get more done when I am far enough away not to be disturbed.

 

[NUTTSGT]

Aside from the fact that distance is a huge deterrent, and maintenance on a huge building (even a simple leak in the roof could be a hassle) and the general maintenance on 18 acres, and the huge potential of vandalism and theft, and cost of insuring the buildings, the potential of a environmental nightmare from a previous owner (underground tanks, leaking tanks, etc), huge power bills just to turn on a few lights to work and keep security lights on............ well, it sounds like a great place.

Charles

I was thinking of some of the same things. I'd rather have a shop at my home, unattached of course.

 

[koditten]

I played that game. My previous shop was 7 miles from the house. You wouldn't think 10 minutes is a long time, but I can't count the times I left late in the evening, woke up at 1 am, remembering I left the welder or the gas to the torches on. Up I got, headed to the shop, only to find that they were in fact off. 20 minutes at O'dark:30 seems like a life time. My stress level and production sky rocketed now that the shop is 300' away. Count me as 100% with your wife.

 

[RoadFarmer]

So I got to do a walk through of the building.
Owner said he'd take 120k....so heigher than I thought. But I guess there are two other guys interested in the acreage and the older tin buildings to the north and south of the building I want.

I walked it off the warehouse is 50x130, Showroom is 50x60

A couple things I didnt know that the building had are, a 8x10 fire/tornado proof walk in Vault with bad *** old school vault door, two bathrooms, and a P/A speaker system.

No underground tanks, reasonable taxes....so if I could get rid of the acreage and the other buildings might not be too bad. We'll have to see. I'll keep you guys posted.

 

[muibubbles]

omg that would be my dream. I'm still in college but to own a warehouse would be my dream. convert half to living space with awesome open high ceilings and other half fab shop/ garage...

def keep us posted!